TY - JOUR T1 - Effect of physical inactivity on COPD exacerbations JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P4716 AU - David Donaire-Gonzalez AU - Elena Gimeno-Santos AU - Judith Garcia-Aymerich Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4716.abstract N2 - Background: Physical inactivity is one of the few modifiable risk factors of exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 2,500 steps per day has been proposed as a threshold between inactivity and limited activity in elderly or special populations (Tudor-Locke 2011, Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act).Aim: To evaluate the effect of physical inactivity, measured objectively, on the risk of admission for a COPD exacerbation.Methods: At baseline, 177 COPD patients from the PAC-COPD cohort provided the number of days per week performing less than 2,500 steps/day from an activity monitor (SenseWear® Pro2 Armband). Information about COPD hospital admissions during the follow up [mean (SD): 2.5 (0.8) years] was obtained from validated centralised datasets. The relationship between baseline physical activity and risk of COPD admission was tested using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.Results: At baseline, patients were mean (SD) age of 71(8) years, and had postBD FEV1 of 52(16)%. Two thirds of the patients (64%) walked more than 2,500 steps/day all days of the week, while 13% of them fulfilled this condition none or only one day. During follow-up, 65(38%) patients had suffered at least a COPD admission. After adjusting for having suffered a previous COPD admission, FEV1, PaO2 and season, patients who walked 2,500 steps/day less than 2 days per week showed an increased risk of COPD admission (HR (95% CI) 1.88 (1.00 to 3.51), p=0.048) as compared to those who walked 2,500 steps/day two to seven days/week.Conclusion: COPD patients should be encouraged to avoid inactivity in order to reduce COPD admissions. ER -